Cyclopaedia - Preface

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ii................................The P R E F A C E.

and amplified to take in so large a Structure, can have but a very general, indistinguishing Perception of any of the Parts.-Whereas the Parts are not less Matter of Knowledge when taken separately, than when put together. Nay, and in strictness, as our Ideas are all Singulars or Individuals, and as every Thing that exists is one; it seems more natural to consider Knowledge in its proper Parts i.e. as divided into separate Articles denoted by different Terms; than to consider the whole Assemblage of it in its utmost Composition: which is a thing merely artificial and imaginary.

And yet the latter Way must be allowed to have many and real Advantages over the former; which in truth is only of use and significance as it partakes thereof: For this reason, that all Writing is in its own Nature artificial; and that the Imagination is really the Faculty it immediately applies to. Hence it should follow, that the most advantageous way, is to make use of both Methods: To consider every point both as a Part; to help the Imagination to the Whole: and as a Whole, to help it to every Part. ----Which is the View in the present Work --- so far as the many and great Difficulties we had to labour under would allow us to pursue it.

In this View we have endeavoured to give the Substance of what has been hitherto found in the several Branches of Knowledge both natural and artificial; that is, of Nature, first, as she appears to our Senses; either spontaneously, as in Natural History; or with the Assistance of Art, as in Anatomy, Chemistry, Medicine, Agriculture, etc.Secondly, to our Imagination; as in Grammer, Rhetorick, Poetry, etc. Thirdly, to our Reason; as in Physicks, Metaphysicks, Logicks, and Mathematicks. With the several subordinate Arts arising from each; as Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Trade, Manufactures, Policy, Law, etc. and numerous remote Particulars, not immediately reducible to any of these Heads; as Heraldry, Philology, Antiquities, Customs, etc.

THE Plan of the Work, then, I hope, will be allowed to be good; whatever Exceptions may be taken to the Execution of it. It would look extravagant to say, That half the Men of Letters of an Age might be employed in it to advantage; and yet it will appear, that a Work accomplished as it ought to be, on the Footing of this, would answer all the Purposes of a Library, except Parade and Incumbrance, and contribute more to the propagating of useful Knowledge through the Body of a People, than any, I had almost said all, the Books extant.---After this, let the Reader judge how far I may deserve Censure for engaging in it, even disadvantageously; and whether to have failed in so noble a Design, may not be some degree of Praise.

But, it will be here necessary to carry on the Division of Knowledge a little further; and make a precise Partition of the Body thereof, in the more formal Way of Analysis: The rather, as an Analysis, by shewing the Origin and Derivation of the several Parts, and the Relation in which they stand to their common Stock and to each other; will assist in restoring them to their proper Places, and connecting them together.

Natural and Scientifical which is either

Sensible; consisting in the Perception of Phenomina or External Objects ----called PHYSIOLOGY, or NATURAL HISTORY; and which according to the different Kinds of such Objects, divides into

Or,

Rational; consisting in the Perception of the intrinsick Characters or Habitudes of sensable Objects ---either

METEOROLOGY (1)
HYDROLOGY (2)
MINEROLOGY (3)
PHYTOLOGY (4)
ZOOLOGY (5)

Their Powers and Properties called PHYSICKS, and NATURAL PHILOSOPHY (6)

Abstracts thereof called METAPHYSICS (7) which subdivides into

Quantities thereof, called MATHEMATICS which subdivides, according to the Subject
of the Quantity, into ---

Relations thereof to our Happiness ---- called Religion or the Doctrine of OFFICES, which subdivides into ----

ONTOLOGY
PNEUMATOLOGY,

ARITHMETIC (8) ---whence

GEOMETRY (17)---whence
STATICS (12)

ETHICS (13), or NATURAL RELIGION - whence

THEOLOGY (16), or REVELATION

ANALYTICS (9)
ALGEBRA (10)

TRIGONOMETRY
CONICS
SPHERICS

POLITICS (14)
LAW (15)

Or,

Artificial and Technical, (consisting in the Application of Natural Notices to further Purposes) which is either

Internal; employed in discovering their Agreement and Disagreement; or their Relations in respect of Truth --- called LOGICS (17)

Or,

External, which is either

Real, employed in discovering and applying the ---

Or,

Symbolical, employed in the framing

Further Powers and Properties of Bodies ---called CHEMISTRY (18) --whence

Quantities of Bodies called Mixed MATHEMATICS; which according to the different Subjects revolves into

Structures and Oeconomy of Organical Bodies ----called ANATOMY (38)

Relations thereof to the Preservation and improvements ---either of

Words, or Articulate Signs of Ideas ----called GRAMMAR (44)
Figures ----called RHETORIC (45) ---whence
Fables ----called POETRY (47)

ALCHEMY.
NATURAL MAGIC, Etc.

OPTICS (19), CATOPTRICS,
DIOPTRICS---whence
PHONICS ---whence MUSIC (22)
HYDROSTATICS (23), HYDRAULICS.
PNEUMATICS (24)
MECHANICS (25) ---whence

PYROTECHNIA (29) ---whence

ASTRONOMY (32) ---whence

GEOGRAPHY (35), HYDROGRAPHY

Animals ---called

Vegitables ---called

Bruits ---called

The making of Armories called HERALDRY (46)

PERSPECTIVE (20).
PAINTING (21).

ARCHITECTURE (26).
SCULPYURE (27).
TRADES (28), and MANUFACTURES.
The MILITARY Art (30).
FORTIFICATION (31).
CHRONOLOGY (33).
DIALLING (34).

NAVIGATION (36).
COMMERCE(37).

MEDICINE (39).
PHARMACY (40).

AGRICULTURE (41).
GARDENING (42).

FARRYING (43).
MANAGE ---whence
HUNTING, FALCONRY, FISHING Etc.

This is a View of Knowledge, as it were, in femine; exhibiting only the grand, constituent Parts thereof. It would be endless to pursue it into all its Members and Ramifications; which is the proper Business of the Book it self. It might here, therefore, seem sufficient to refer from the several Heads thus deduced, to the same in the Course of the Work; where their Division is carried on. And yet this would sometimes prove inconvenient for the Reader; who to find some particular Matter must go a long Circuit, and be bandied from one part of the Book to another: To say nothing of the Interruptions which may frequently happen in the Series of References. To obviate this we shall take a middle Course, and carry on the Distribution further, in a Note in the Margin;

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